Drinking straw dispenser



June 1, 1948. MOORE DRINKING STRAW DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1-944 INVENTOR. P655674 M0065 flrrae/YEK Wrra/e/VEK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Eflfiftf ,4. flooae R L MOORE DRINKING STRAW DISPENSER June 1, 1948.

Filed Sept. 15, 1944 Patented June 1, 1948 DRINKING STRAW DISPENSER Robert L. Moore, Greene Township, St. Joseph County, Ind, assignor to Bendix Home Appliances, Inc., South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application September 15, 1944, Serial No. 554,275

This invention relates to a drinking straw dispenser.

Where drinking straws are required, such, for instance, as in connection with a vending machine for fruit juices or other liquids, it is important that they be stored in a manner such that they will be protected and also available for use one at a time when desired. It is also important that the container be such that straws therein will be urged toward the position from which they can be removed from the container at all times regardless of the number of straws in the container.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a drinking straw dispenser which will hold the straws in a container which will be continuously urged toward a central opening ready to be removed from the container.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the following more I detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the container.

Figure 2 is a top view of the container showing its semicircular form.

Figure 3 is a side view of the container partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, a container I is shown and in horizontal cross-section is of substantially semicircular form as shown in Figure 2 while in vertical front view the container is of substantial rectangular form. In the front side of the semicircular surface and centrally thereof, an opening I2 is provided which is of elongated form as shown. In order to provide a fiat surface for the opening, the front portion of the container is preferably made flat on a portion thereof as shown at M in Figure 2 and on the outside of this fiat portion a plate 16 is mounted as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This plate I6 is also provided with a central opening which corresponds with the opening l2. In the back of the semicircular container and at a point substantially at the center of the radius of the semicircular container, two vertical rods [8 and are mounted which extend from the top to the bottom of the container as shown in Figure 3. These rods form mountings for hinges 22 and 23 which provide for the swinging of plates 24 and 26 thereon. The plates 24 and 26 are urged to swing on the rods l8 and 20 by springs 28 and 30. The springs are mounted in such manner as to swing the plates 24 and 26 toward each other in the direction shown by the arrows in Figure 2.

3 Claims. (Cl. 312-73) That is, the two plates 24 and 26 tend to swing insuch a manner as to cover the are from the back of the container to a point near the front thereof until they contact stops 25 and 21 which are preferably conical shaped projections welded to the casing wall as shown. As shown in Figure 3 in the side view of the container, the bottom wall 32 is inclined in such a manner that it extends downwardly toward the front terminating in a flat portion 34. The incline provides additional means to urge the straws toward the front opening, the spring-urged plates and gravity action afforded by the incline both tending to urge the straws toward the opening. 7

In use of the container a plurality of straws 36 are placed in the container between the two swinging plates 24 and 26. If the number of straws placed therein is nearly sufficient to fill the container, the plates 24 and 26 will be positioned near the back of the container l0 and will hold the straws in a semicircular arc between them since the two plates are at all times urged toward each other by the springs 28 and 30. As shown in Figure 3 the straws are necessarily held on the incline 32 and, therefore, as straws are removed from the front of the container, from opening l2 and as the plates 24 and 26 swing toward each other, the straws remaining in the container rearrange themselves because of the dropping of the straws downwardly as they approach the center and forward portion of the container ready to be removed from the opening l2. It is apparent that the plates 24 and 26 will swing toward each other as straws are removed. The remaining straws will rearrange themselves in such a manner that straws will always be available to be removed or until such a small quantity of straws is in position as will require refilling when plates 24 and 26 contact stops 25 and 21. Such condition requiring refilling will be apparent when the straws are no longer held snugly against the front of the container, although a few straws will still be available rear- Wardly of the opening. Such loose condition of the straws at the opening give a definite indication that it is necessary to refill the container. It is noted that stops 25 and 2'! will cause the two plates 24 and 26 to stop short of the front of the container thus preventing further urging of the straws toward the center which will produce the result above noted.

Although the invention has been described by reference to a specific structure found practical in actual operation, it is evident that various changes may be made without departing from the general principles herein described and such changes are contemplated within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a container for straws, a front wall of substantially semicircular cross section having an opening in the front central portion thereof, a bottom wall secured to said front wall and inclined downwardly toward the opening in said front wall, a pair of plates each pivoted at its,

edge on a vertical axis positioned substantiallyat the center of the are of curvature of saidfront wall, and resilient means urging said plates :toward each other and toward the central opening in said front wall, whereby straws carried between said plates and inside said front wall are urged toward said central opening both by gravity action afforded by said inclined bottom wall and by the resiliently urged. movement of said plates.

2. In a container for straws, a substantially semicircular front wall having a central opening therein, a bottom wall secured to said front wall, a pair of-plates each pivoted at its edge on a vertical axis positioned substantially at the center of the arc of curvature of said front wall, resilient means urging said plates to swing toward each other and toward said central opening, and stops adjacent said central opening for limiting the swinging movement of said plates.

plates to swing toward each other and toward said centrally located opening and over said in- .clined bottom wall, the combined action of said plates and'said inclined bottom wall being of such anature as to urge said straws carried between said plates toward said centrally located opening of said front wall into position for removal.

ROBERT L. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 998,468 Colmyer July 18, 1911 1,198,027 Harbeck Sept. 12, 1916 1,730,312 Bravo Oct. 1, 1929 

